A Massive Congratulations to ME woohooooo.... I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Jaxton-Black on the 13/12/2016.
But did my birth plan go to plan?.....
Nope.
So many people said to me "your so fit, you will probably have a really good birth", and if I am honest I thought I would too. I planned for this amazing holistic mindfulness water birth in the home-from-home centre, I was actually quite excited but unfortunately it didn't happen. I must say I actually thought my Jaxton-Black was going to be two weeks early but he was actually 4 days LATE(already like his dad..hehe).
If you have been following me on my social networks (kimmy_fitness) you would have seen that I exercised right up until birth day. I am so fortunate that I was able to exercise throughout my pregnancy, as I know it incredibly helped me through labour not just physically but mentally too. I highly recommend exercising throughout pregnancy if you can because labour is a marathon/HIIT session in itself. Labour requires your mental strength as well as your physical strength/endurance and of course training through pregnancy will help with your recovery too.
Jaxton-Black's Birth
Sunday night (11/12/16) my waters started leaking slowly, at first I did think I had actually wet myself and then I realised my waters had broken. This then meant that labour needed to start within 24hours incase of infection. In most cases this does happen but of course not in my case haha... and I wouldn't have expected any different either(I tend to do things the long way round), plus my boy was just wayyyyy to comfy.
After speaking with my midwife, she then booked us in for 6pm inducement at the hospital on the Monday night if labour did not start naturally(which it didn't). Of course we reached the hospital for 6pm and didn't get seen until 8.30pm but I couldn't have really expected any different, babies do not stick to any schedule.
Later that evening Jaxton-Black's heart rate was monitored when they were just about to start the inducement. About 11.45pm they induced me with the gel and a swoop which got things moving pretty rapidly, this was all completely new to me as I went into labour naturally with my first.
Unfortunately after being induced we did have a little scare, my contractions started immediately which was fabulous(the midwife did say my cervix was favourable) but during the second contraction my tummy went rock solid and my baby boy's heart rate dropped and kept dropping. I told Hendrick(my husband) to run and get someone which then about 6-8 doctors & midwives rushed around my bed. During these few moments I thought the worst, I thought only this amount of doctors would be around my bed if something bad is happening.
After them all staring at me and the heart rate monitor for what seemed like an hour but were only a few minutes they turned me to my side which slowly made Jaxtons' heart rate begin to rise. During this moment I really felt I had to tune into my body and calm my body down and calm Jaxton down, this seemed so crazy as I was so scared and normally when we are in fear we flee, but not in labour. In labour you have to control your body whilst dealing with extreme pain/fear. It's pretty incredible that us women actually have the ability to do this.
From this moment I just wanted my boy in my arms, most of the midwives seemed to be telling us different information, which made me feel even more unsettled, this just made me realise all I can do is focus on bringing this boy into our world safely.
We then got moved into the labour room about 2.00am with a new midwife who seemed very unwelcoming and made me feel uneasy, I thought this was the last thing I needed. I asked her "if everything was okay" even though I were the one in labour. She didn't respond very well and questioned whether I wanted a different midwife which I then took the opportunity and said yes. It was very strange, I totally understand they must be so busy but this is a very precious, scary time for us women, a time where 'mother nature' takes over our body which makes us feel vulnerable, we need their professional support.
We were then given another midwife who was absolutely lovely so I am very pleased I did speak up as I really needed this encouragement and professional support. Of course my husband was amazing, stuck to my side and supported me throughout but it was important for me to have a midwife I could feel comfortable with.
Throughout the rest of my labour Jaxtons' heart rate was monitored and I were given antibiotics and fluids due to the slow water breakage and Jaxtons' heart rate dropping.
Contractions began to get more intense which then I chose to have some of the 'Gas & Air'....did that feel good or did that feel good...I could have sang my heart out being high on that stuff hehe...
About 3.15am my contractions began to get even more intense I just knew I were in the final stages. Hendrick decided to pop to the toilet and my midwife had gone to use the computer, for a split second I thought after all of that chaos I am now about to give birth to my son on my own hehe... but it didn't happen thank goodness.
As they returned I told the midwife he was coming soon so she checked how dilated I were which was only 3cm. Now for a first pregnancy 3cm means you have quite a way to go so it made me think he wasn't coming anytime soon.
Labour then started to become more familiar, not that that made it any less painful. I must say there was a moment where I felt I could not do this, it was so painful, but I knew I totally could, I mean you only have that option anyways.
I kept telling myself.. "stay focused, go into a trance, take your mind to a place where only you are, be incontrol and listen to your body".
Then about 3.45am I knew I were in the last one or two contractions, it was pretty amazing knowing that he was actually coming. As I came to my final contraction the midwife had called for more midwives then the midwife guided me to go slow-........ his head was out, she told me "ok the next contraction you need to really push" so I did, "push- Go slow, but push, but go slow, but push, in painnnnn, push, go slow, more pain".... And........He was here...
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| Jaxton-Black born on the 13/12/2016 at 3.52am |
3.52am my boy arrived, safe and sound. Weighing 6lb 4oz. Crying as he came out but not a peep from him since. No tears, uterus has gone down nicely, breastfeeding has felt natural and breastmilk flowing through. My recovery has been amazing, thank goodness as that is what you need with a very active two and half year old. Massively recommend pregnancy exercise especially if you do need a quick recovery.
I can definitely say, I trained for Jaxtons' birth. Every hit session, Every 30/40min cardio session, Every pilates session, all massively helped me.
If you need help exercising through your pregnancy or post-pregnancy click here to email me.
Do check out my Pregnancy information page for lots of information about pregnancy and my 'Personal Training/ Mummyfitness' page for more information on my training programs.
If anyone knows me reading this will find this very predictable and funny what I am about to tell you... But yes I bought my own breakfast into the hospital haha ...I know I am a health freak, but I know they will not be serving any Gluten free cereal/none cows milk in the morning haha. I must say this was a savour as they did ask me to have a snack before being induced so it is worth taking in your own foods.
